Question

Under _____ settlement, the land belonged to a group of villages which was collectively responsible for the payment of revenues.
A) Ryotwari
B) Permanent
C) Mahalwari
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The impoverishment of the peasantry was caused by British revenue methods. The British supported the emergence of absentee landlords, harsh moneylenders, and further forced the peasantry into misery by making land a transferable property. The British implemented a fundamental alteration in the country's existing land arrangements by making land a commodity that could be freely bought and sold. The Indian villages' stability and continuity were shattered. The entire rural social structure began to disintegrate.

Complete answer:
For Britishers in India, land revenue was one of the most important sources of income. During British control in India, there were essentially three types of land revenue systems in place. There were three major forms of land tenure systems in use in the country prior to independence: the Zamindari System, the Mahalwari System, and the Ryotwari System.

Let us now consider each option:
A) Ryotwari: The peasants were given ownership rights in the Ryotwari System. Taxes were collected directly from peasants by the British government. The Ryotwari System generated 50% revenue while the land was dry and 60% revenue when the land was watered. Thus, this is an incorrect option.
B) Permanent: Zamindars were given the ability to collect rent from peasants under the Zamindari System, also known as the Permanent Settlement System. While the zamindars became the landowners, the genuine farmers were reduced to tenants. Even if the yield was low, the tax had to be paid. Thus, this is an incorrect option.
C) Mahalwari: The land was divided into Mahals under the Mahalwari system. Each Mahal had one or more villages that were collectively responsible for income collection. Thus, this is the correct option. Thus, this is the correct option.
D) None of the above: Since, option (C) Mahalwari is the correct option, this option is no longer valid. Thus, this is an incorrect option.

The correct option is (C), Mahalwari. That is, under the Mahalwari settlement, the land belonged to a group of villages that was collectively responsible for the payment of revenues.

Note: The Mahalwari system required the village headmen to collect land revenue from the farmers on behalf of the entire community. Land revenue was paid directly to the government by farmers under the Ryotwari system. William Bentinck first presented the Mahalwari system in 1833.It was first used in British India's Central Province, North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic Valley, and other areas.